Colder ahead as the south slowly digs out of snowfall

As a rare southeast winter storm gripped the Gulf Coast on Tuesday, experts said that while some wildlife, like alligators, can adapt to the extreme cold, the longer a cold spell is, the more dangerous it can be, especially to marine life.

That was the case for the 60 to 70 manatees huddled in the spring water at Wakulla Springs State Park, near Tallahassee, Fla., as snow and sleet fell Tuesday. Many manatees died during a freeze in 2010.

Scott Rylance, a senior maintenance mechanic at the park, said the cold-blooded gators that live there also escape the bitter cold by plunging into hot spring water.

“It could be 10 degrees out here and that water will still be 70 degrees,” said Mr. Rylance, who ran the marshalling station.

Alligators, which generally slow down in winter, adapt to cold weather by seeking warmth in the water, said Frank J. Mazzotti, a professor of wildlife ecology at the University of Florida. Even if ice covers a body of water, gators can survive in the water below, sometimes by sticking their snouts through the ice to breathe, he said.

“It’s like having a snorkel,” said Dr. Mazzotti.

Manatees can take to warm spring water, but prolonged exposure that extreme weather can be deadly, said Dr. Mazzotti.

In a statement Tuesday, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission warned that sea turtles can become “cold stunned” when water temperatures drop to 50 degrees Fahrenheit or below.

“Cold stunned sea turtles may float listlessly in the water, on or near shore,” the agency said, advising residents to report any injured, distressed or dead sea turtles.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries also warned that the cold blast could result in potential fish kills in the state’s coastal areas due to freezing water temperatures. The speckled trout and red drum, both inshore species, can experience problems when water temperatures drop below certain levels, said Jason Adriance, a fisheries biologist with the department. said in a press release earlier this month.

“The rate at which the water cools is also important,” said Mr. Adriance. “If fish have a chance to acclimatize and move, the potential for survival is higher.”

One of the biggest threats wildlife faces during bouts of extreme weather is from people concerned about animal survival, said Tommy Tuma, a wildlife administrator with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

For example, residents may see more wildlife out searching for food under the snow and want to help, said Mr. Tuma. But Mr. Tuma and warned the department residents against taking wild animals in during the storm. Wild animals are intuitive, he said, and can sense when a weather event is imminent.

“They know it’s coming and they know how to deal with that kind of thing,” he said.